The Power of Now With Focus & Concentration

I hear so many people freely use the expressions to stay 'in the moment' or the 'present' or the 'now'! It is one thing to say it, but it is another thing entirely to actually do it. To stay in the present is like receiving a gift, but even then some people’s minds will still run back and forth. Your mind has a tracking device and when you receive something it looks for verification on outcomes based on previous experiences, beliefs and morals. Depending on all of these it will act accordingly and it then bypasses the present as it is already working out the outcomes or scenarios and the mind begins to wonder.

To be actually present is to absorb yourself completely into the moment and put all your attention and focus there. Examples of this are when you are what some people call 'switched off' or 'zoned out' by being absorbed in a movie or playing a video game. You can also switch off when you have just met someone you really like or when you are at a new place that you have never been before and you are in absolute awe. This is the same feeling, you are still aware of everything around you, but you are in the ‘zone’.

Now let me ask you these questions:

Are you getting out and about or staying in your own comfort zones?

Are you being proactive in your solutions or are you secluding yourself?

Are you mixing with happy people or victims?

Are you utilizing your environment such as parks and beaches or taking them for granted?

Sometimes we forget about the simple things in life by getting tied up in having fun or complications and dramas and we seclude ourselves. All of these will affect you being in the present moment. I am sure you have heard the saying “wake up and smell the roses.” This is what it is all about.

When your mind is racing you can scream out in your mind or out loud, “Stop” or “I am”. This will bring you back to the present. Next you must stop everything in its tracks including your body language just like the game ‘Simon Says’. Then take a moment to become aware of what you see, the sounds, the external feelings such as the breeze, is it cool or warm, is your body heavy or light, what type of ground are your feet grounded on and so on. The more you practice this now, the more aware and in the moment you can become.

Also when you are talking to someone you need to absorb yourself into the conversation. You can say to yourself,"the only moment that counts is now and what I am doing?" You can also practice by looking at a spot on the wall or a tree or whatever is around you. Absorb yourself into that spot and try to guess what is beyond that spot. While you are still, if you lose focus just re focus and concentrate again on that spot. This will help you with your focus and concentration skills and is also good for enhancing your intuition. Become aware while you are doing this of the external things around you and understand the internal things you feel. If you keep practicing this everyday for a minimum of around fifteen minutes you will become good at it. By doing this it will also assist in every part of your life as this is also a form of meditation.

Here is an example of the power of this technique. Twenty years ago I was supposed to have an operation because I was lifting a tray up on a car and my intestines popped out of my stomach wall. I wasn’t really sure of what I was doing, but while waiting for the operation date I tried this technique. I sat in front of my house with my eyes closed focusing the sun’s energy to the spot in my stomach and in my imagination I was imagining the hole was closing up and healing. Within a month that is exactly what happened. This is a very powerful technique. By stopping your mind and refocusing it to your outcome instead of what you fear, amazing results can come about. You must be in the present. There are many things that will also help with this, martial arts, yoga, pilates, meditation, gardening, different types of sports, dancing and so on. The art is to absorb your whole self into the moment and enjoy it because this is the only time that is REAL. The past has happened, the future is coming. What you do in this pure moment will give you the ability to direct outcomes into the future then draw them back to the present. This is the focus that you need to hold as this will help speed up your true outcome quicker.

Here are a couple of tips for opening your awareness and presence at the same time.

1. You can close your eyes or put a blind fold on and practice walking around a few rooms in your house. Start with easy routes first and then, be more daring by walking around your whole house. While you do this your senses will also awaken. Even try walking backwards around your house as you look forward, this will also help. Always start with simple and easy steps and as you become better at it you can add obstacles along the way. When you are walking backward always make sure you do it slowly and slightly drag your feet, so you are aware and your body becomes sensitized by touch, the ground and the obstacles. Please be sensible whilst doing this.

2. Another good mind technique you can use when your mind races is to close your eyes and imagine in your own way many leaves swirling around. Then scream out in your mind STOP. Then imagine the leaves stop and form the word STOP and drop to the ground. These are a few techniques for you to practice using but find the one that is more natural and easy for you, as there is no right or wrong way to do it. When you take the time to do these little things you realize that life is quite simple. These are guides that you can use that have worked for me over the years.